TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jul 13, 2026

A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) investigation is underway after a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent fatally shot Alfonso Ivy on July 8 while members of the Memphis Safe Task Force attempted to serve an arrest warrant at an extended-stay hotel in the 6500 block of Poplar Avenue in East Memphis, the Commercial Appeal reports. According to the U.S. Marshals Service and TBI, Ivy was wanted on felony drug charges in Shelby County and allegedly pointed a handgun at officers, prompting a DEA agent to open fire. Officers rendered first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived, but Ivy died at the scene. No officers were injured. According to News Channel 3, court records show Ivy has had more than 50 encounters with the criminal justice system dating back to 1997, including convictions for drug, weapons and assault offenses. He was released from state prison in 2025 after serving seven years. He has served 12 years in prison over multiple sentences.